Pass It On

Switzerland is famous for its watches. We have some pretty well-known brands that all seem kind of expensive to me. Each company seeks to make themselves exclusive and desirable. One brand recently caught my eye with their ad that said: “You never actually own a Patek Philippe, you merely look after it for the next generation.
I’d certainly never be able to own a Patek Philippe without a mortgage, but I can see where they are going with this approach. It’s a prestige kind of thing. Own something so valuable and special that it is handed down from generation to generation. This isn’t a simple watch or even a fancy way of telling time: it’s a family heirloom, something that is priceless.
That’s the way it is with the gospel. We are stewards of the gospel message and are required to pass it on to the next generation. The Psalmist wrote:
“Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.” Psalm 145:4
It’s important that we pass on our faith to the next generation. This doesn’t happen by chance, we must be intentional. In living out our faith in front of our children, they need to know and understand why our walk with God is so important. Deuteronomy 6 gives some instruction for parents:
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6-9
These are challenging but important commands for anyone who has influence in the life of a child. The most valuable thing we will ever pass on to our children isn’t a piece of family jewellery: it’s helping them find a personal relationship with their loving heavenly Father.

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